MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Rappallini loses licence for 4 months after Falklands flight.

Martin Rappallini, the intrepid pilot who in January became the first Argentine to land an aircraft in Port Stanley since 1982, has been ?grounded' for 4 months on the orders of the Argentine Air Force. 49 year old Rappallini flew his small Piper Aerostar aircraft from the Chilean port of Punta Arenas to the Falklands as he had not received permission from Argentine authorities to fly from Comodoro Rivadavia. He stayed 3 days in the Islands before flying directly back to Comodoro, accompanied by his 2 daughters, 23 year old Maria Eliana and 20 year old Maria Paula.

Speaking from Buenos Aires, Rappallini said that he was ?totally devastated' by his 4 months ban and will ?be seeking advice from his lawyers before deciding what his next move will be'.

He was originally charged with: 1.Taking off from Punta Arenas without authorisation from the Aeronautical Authority. 2.Entering Argentine airspace without clearance from the Air Traffic Controller 3.Not communicating with the Argentine air traffic controller.

Rappallini who works as an oil consultant declared his innocence of the charges. He said that the Chilean Air Authorities were well capable of issuing their own clearance ? he had flown in what is known as ?G' airspace and therefore did not require clearance from the Argentine Air Traffic Controller ? he has taped evidence on the audio channel on his camcorder that someone he had talked to identified herself as "Ushuaia Tower" and ?is not Ushuaia part of Argentina?'

During his 3 days in the Islands Rappallini and his daughters spent a full day at Volunteer Point viewing the King Penguin colony. He has since indicated his support for the Islanders.

Rappallini said that when he was told of his ?grounding' he was ?very deeply hurt and saddened to the point of getting my eyes wet because of the senseless, irrational answer to my discharges'.He said that he has spent all afternoon visiting with two lawyers and both basically said the same that he could ?nail the Airforce very badly' as there is no support for their charges ? much less after out two Governments signed the agreement of "free flight/sail".

In the Falklands there has been total disbelief to the ban handed out to the popular Argentine.One official said that ?it was regrettable that a good Ambassador for his Country had fallen foul of his own authorities'.

Councillor Mike Summers who has responsibility for Immigration in the Islands, and who recently called the Argentine Government ?pathetic and childish', said ?I feel sorry for him, but it is an internal issue and not for us to get involved with. He had our permission to come here and has done nothing wrong as far as we are concerned'.

Meanwhile Rappallini that he was ?Prepared to fight very hard to clear his name. I know it will cost